Who is eligible to apply?
Emerging artists from WANA (West Asia and North Africa) region who live in The Netherlands, working in the field of contemporary visual and digital media arts.

I am currently a student at school/university, am I eligible to apply?
Unfortunately no. The artist residency is aimed for recently graduated (max. 4 years ago) and emerging artists of equivalent experience.

Can duo’s, collaborators or collectives apply, and in that case is the grant doubled?
Yes, an artistic duo and collaborators/collectives of maximum two artists are welcome to apply. In this case, you should provide the personal details, CVs and portfolios of both of you within the same application. The grant remains 4,000 euros and cannot be doubled.

I am a self-taught artist (autodidact) and do not have a formal education in arts, can I also apply?
Yes. Having a formal degree in arts is not a necessary requirement for application. We encourage autodidact artists to apply as long as you have an equivalent experience of around 4 active years in artistic practice.

I do not have a background in art and/or culture but I am interested in digital art and culture, can I apply?
Unfortunately no. The artist residency programme is aimed to support emerging artists to develop their artistic practice. However, we do have public talks and workshops that are organised during the residency period which you can join. Subscribe here to our newsletter to stay informed on these upcoming events.

I don’t speak Dutch, can I still apply?
Yes. Dutch language is not mandatory for applying.

How can I apply?
You can apply by filling in the application form here. Make sure to fill in all the fields with the sign (*) next to them, and upload all the required documents. Missing applications will not be eligible for the selection process.

Where can I upload my portfolio?
Within the application form, there is a ‘Choose file’ button where you can upload your portfolio. Portfolio’s need to be uploaded as a PDF file, with a maximum size of 25MB. In case of large video files, include the video link(s) in the specified field, and do not forget to mention the password in case they are only for private viewing.

Can I mail a hard copy of my application?
No. Only applications submitted via the online form will be considered.

What can I expect from the artist residency programme?
The artist residency programme provides access to a working space in Rotterdam in addition to a financial grant of 4,000 euros. During this period, you will be supported by a team of professionals in the fields of visual and digital media arts, including periodical studio visits. You will have access to a series of curated public talks and workshops that are shaped according to your themes and artistic interests, including linking you to relevant cultural and artistic institutions. You will also get an opportunity to present your work during (A)WAKE’s annual ‘New Radicalism’ exhibition in 2022.

Does the artist residency include a living space or will I need to find my own housing in Rotterdam?
The artist residency programme does not include a living space. However if you live far from Rotterdam, we can help you to find affordable accommodation, which you could deduct as living costs from the 4,000 euro grant.

What is required from the selected artist during the artist residency programme?
At the start of the programme, you will be guided to write a working plan for the six-week period. As a selected artist, you are expected to attend the planned public talks and workshops, and be present and prepared for the studio visits. At the end of the residency programme, you are expected to share your work-in-progress and outcome where you present what was achieved during this period. A financial report must be submitted within two-weeks after the end date of the residency period upon which the last instalment is paid.

Is there an exhibition opportunity at the end of the residency period?
At the end of the residency period, you are expected to share your work-in-progress or outcome in front of the curatorial team and selection of the advisory committee. Based on the presentation, we will discuss with you the possibility to show your work at the annual ‘New Radicalism’ exhibition in 2022.

Do I have the possibility to choose which of the 3 artist residency periods suit me best?
Yes. Within the application form you can select which of the three artist residency periods suit you best. We will do our best to take your preference into consideration, however we cannot assure that it will be the case.

What can I expect from the artistic guidance?
During the artist residency period, you will be supported by (A)WAKE’s artistic team of professionals in the fields of visual and digital media arts. This includes Hilda Moucharrafieh (artist supervisor), Salim Bayri (visual studio), Reda Senhaji (audio studio) and Remi DaTroa (interactive designer), Shirin Mirachor (public program, strategy). Throughout the residency, you have planned studio visits with all three artists who can be a soundboard for your brainstorming and facilitate your project development.

What does the term ‘digital culture’ mean?
Digital culture refers to all the digitally networked technologies we are surrounded by and embedded in. These technologies, whether physical machines or invisible codes or even the Internet itself, are deeply intertwined in the everyday design process; from how things are made and distributed, to the overarching geopolitical and economic reality of the 21st century. Through these digital technologies, we are able to produce code-processed images, 3D-print a tiny screw or a real-size house, as well as exist as alter-egos or deep-fakes in a simulated virtual reality space. In this sense, digital culture refers to the code, the machine that produced the code, the people who wrote and own it, and the users at the end of this chain.

What does WANA stand for?
WANA (West Asia and North Africa) countries include: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine and its Occupied Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara and Yemen, including Afghanistan and Iran.

Why do you particularly focus on WANA?
(A)WAKE is a grassroots cultural organisation built by diaspora artists from the WANA region. Through (A)WAKE, we are committed to providing a space for the in-between diasporic voices of similarly mixed cultural backgrounds. Our direction is driven by questioning the emancipatory potential of the digital world in favor of equal access and mutual cultural exchange between WANA and West Europe. Through the focus on these two regions which we personally find ourselves in, we aim towards propositive approaches which challenge the greater North-South power dynamics through art and digital culture.

I do not have roots in the WANA region, can I still apply?
Unfortunately no. This artist residency programme is primarily intended for diasporic artists from West Asia and North Africa (WANA). However, we do have public talks and workshops that are organised during the residency period which you can join. Subscribe here to our newsletter to stay informed on these upcoming events.

I come from the WANA region but I don’t live in the Netherlands, is it possible to apply?
Unfortunately no. Due to the requirements of the fund supporting this residency programme, applicants must be living in The Netherlands. We hope to have more broader opportunities to support artists in and from the WANA region. Subscribe here to our newsletter to stay informed of upcoming events and opportunities.

Is there a financial contribution included?
Yes, each selected artist receives a 4,000 euro grant (including VAT). In case of a selected duo-artist, the grant remains the same.

What kind of expenses can be paid through the grant?
The grant of 4,000 euros can be used to cover needed materials and production costs towards developing your project, living costs such as rent, food and transport, as well as costs for skill-based workshops or private tutorials with experts which you want to attend.

Who is providing the funding?
This Open-Call is supported by Creative Industries NL

What is the difference between MONO and (A)WAKE?
MONO is the homebase of (A)WAKE. It is a cultural space for alternative sounds in Rotterdam, The Netherlands; A rare unpolished diamond, in an authentic part of the city, at the edge of the center. (A)WAKE is the catalyst of the cultural programs.

During the night MONO transforms into a clubspace hosting emerging dj’s, producers and audiovisual artists, while during the day it manifests itself as a coffee place, reading room, a platform for talks, festivals and an all-round casual hang out. All with the accessibility of a community center, and that designs low-threshold artistic programs that relate to the international discourse.

Could you tell me a bit more about (A)WAKE?
(A)WAKE creates space for nuanced voices and polyphonous perspectives. We develop (cultural) programs relating to current socio-political actualities. Programs that initiate, rather than react and do not see counterculture as an expression of consumption but appreciate it as a manifestation of itself. In a world dominated by media and populism, we aim to move freely between the domains of (contemporary) art and politics. By embracing the seductive power of aesthetics and design, and by joining our forces with substantive voices of counterculture we reach a diverse audience of upcoming creatives.

We serve the new generation of thinkers and makers, whose digital reality runs parallel to the physical reality. As this new generation recognizes the complexity of society, it admires transparency and values to be closely involved in the processes of policy making. On the outlook for surer footing and guidance within our fast paced society, there is a desire for organizations with strong values. Approaching society in terms of inclusivity and pluralism is the new status-quo. Therefore we refuse to treat diversity as a ‘checkbox’ and are determined to create space for new makers in a sustainable and structural way. We are only the ‘new voices’ as long as the old remains.

Who is part of (A)WAKE’s artistic team?
(A)WAKE’s artistic team consists of professionals in the fields of visual and digital media arts. This includes Hilda Moucharrafieh (artist supervisor), Salim Bayri (visual studio), Reda Senhaji (audio studio) and Remi DaTroa (interactive designer), Shirin Mirachor (public program, strategy).

Could you tell me a bit more about New Radicalism?
New Radicalism: the Radical New Voices from West Asia, North Africa and her Diasporas is a new media and digital arts festival and a platform for alternative artistic voices who challenge western stereotypes about WANA art and culture. Its first edition in February 2020, the four-day festival was hosted in the ZoHo area, one of the last ungentrified parts of central Rotterdam. The exhibition program includes digital installations, video art, photography and interdisciplinary art, a context program (lectures, panel talks and workshops), and a music program and education program that represent young and emerging WANA creatives.

How does the application process work?
Your application will pass by several stages. At the first stage, the curatorial team of (A)WAKE eliminates the applicants who do not qualify according to our listed eligibility and criteria mentioned in the Open Call. Meeting the criteria makes your application eligible for consideration by the advisory committee, who then make a selection of short-listed candidates. The committee will meet these candidates on 13 May 2021, after which a final selection of three artists will be made. The announcement of selected artists will be made on 17 May 2021.

Can I know the reason why my application was not selected?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide individual feedback explaining the reason why your application was not selected.

Any further questions?
You can contact us at:
hello@a-wake.world

Or sign up for one of our information events on 12 & 26 April 2021 via this link.